Tropical Soils and Food Security: The Next 50 Years Author: Michael A. Stocking Summary: Shirley Shi Critique: Pete Cabral

California Polytechnic State University 2 of 26 Introduction To Summary Address the issue of the energy future Focus on the relation between the topical soil and food security Summarize author’s opinion Support the background for the critique of this article

California Polytechnic State University 3 of 26 Food Security UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) definition: –All people, all time –Physical and economic access –Sufficient, safe, and nutritious food –Meeting dietary needs and preference –For active and healthy life

California Polytechnic State University 4 of 26 Current Condition More than 1 billion people have no food security 60% of rural communities in the tropic and subtropics are affected by decline in food production –Sub-Saharan Africa –Part of Latin America –Part of Caribbean –Part of Central Asia

California Polytechnic State University 5 of 26 Headline Challenges Political impact –Conflict over land Climatological impact –Drought –Global warming Epidemiological impact –AIDS/HIV on farm labor Changing of soil quality

California Polytechnic State University 6 of 26 Soil Quality The capacity of a soil –To function within land use and ecosystem boundaries –To sustain biological productivity –To maintain environmental quality –To promote plant, animal and human health

California Polytechnic State University 7 of 26 Soil Quality and Human Demand A dynamic and diverse production system –Human demand –Biological attribute –Chemical attribute –Physical attribute –Nutrition of the soil and replenishing

California Polytechnic State University 8 of 26 Impact of Soil Quality Excessive off-take of nutrients in crops without replenishment Pets and diseases Weed infestations Climate changing Available water capacity Soil organic carbon source Soil biodiversity Salinity and acidification

California Polytechnic State University 9 of 26 Erosion-Yield Relationship Negative exponential curves Erosion is selective Predict the future food yield and security

California Polytechnic State University 10 of 26 Modeling Erosion-yield-time Relationship

California Polytechnic State University 11 of 26 Resilience and Sensitivity

California Polytechnic State University 12 of 26 Author’s Opinion Local farmers understand the concept of soil quality in the forest-savanna zone Farmer have skills and social networks for sustaining soil quality and security Community-based approaches to empower farmers to manage their own situation

California Polytechnic State University 13 of 26 Conclusion To Summary Soil resources are a dynamic element, not static Many farmers are willing and able to invest in the future Farmers should be the best arbiters of choice, not just the science itself

California Polytechnic State University 14 of 26 Introduction to Critique Objective indicators –Author and the article credibility Subjective indicators –Article credibility Author’s opinion Conclusion

California Polytechnic State University 15 of 26 Objective Indicators – Author Credibility Educational degrees –BA –Masters in Philosophy –PhD Current concentrations –Tropical agricultural development –Land resources and soil conservation –Biological diversity on agricultural lands

California Polytechnic State University 16 of 26 Objective Indicators – Author Credibility University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK –Dean of the School of Development Studies (DEV) Professor in Natural Resource Development –Member of the Overseas Development Group (ODG) Natural Resources & Environment Research Group

California Polytechnic State University 17 of 26 Objective Indicators – Author Credibility Legacy of experience –Involved in tropical agricultural development, land resources and soil conservation since 1969 (~35 years to date) Specific geographical field experience –Sub-Saharan Africa –South America –South and South-east Asia

California Polytechnic State University 18 of 26 Objective Indicators – Author Credibility Current engagements –Loess Plateau in China Biological diversity and erosion in agricultural lands. –Special adviser to Department for International Development (DFID, UK) Hillside production systems –UN University and Environment Program (UNU/UNEP) Biodiversity –GEF-funded Project on People, Land Management and Environmental Change Collaboration with over 200 developing country scientists to develop demonstration sites of agrodiversity –TSBF in Nairobi Soil fertility

California Polytechnic State University 19 of 26 Objective Indicators – Article Credibility Article composition * 54 reference citations ContentQuantity [~ pages] Quantity [~ %] Text260 Diagrams ⅔ 20 References * ⅔ 20 Total 3 ⅓ 100

California Polytechnic State University 20 of 26 Objective Indicators – Article Credibility Analysis of references by date

California Polytechnic State University 21 of 26 Objective Indicators – Article Credibility Analysis of references by type

California Polytechnic State University 22 of 26 Objective Indicators – Article Credibility Analysis of references by organization

California Polytechnic State University 23 of 26 Subjective Indicators – Article Credibility Article uses 11 of 54 references (20.4 %) with contributions from the author –Contributions either as author or editor –Appears excessive, however he is an expert in the field and uses shared authorship in these references

California Polytechnic State University 24 of 26 Subjective Indicators – Article Credibility Systematically identifies soil itself as a risk to food security, even without the affect of external factors –Sensitivity versus Resilience in soil Cites real world solutions that involve a practical applied approach, possibly without direct scientific theory as input –Trashliness, using uprooted weeds and green waste to impede sediment run-off

California Polytechnic State University 25 of 26 Author’s Opinion “’Tragedy of the commons’ scenarios can be averted by pragmatic local solutions that help farmers to help themselves.” –Indicated that farmers do desire to use soil resources efficiently, but require practical solutions –Indicated that practically applied solutions have the greatest chance of success

California Polytechnic State University 26 of 26 Conclusion to Critique Objective Indicators –The author is experienced in the subject and has collaborated with credible global organizations for first-hand experience Subjective Indicators –Fresh view of soil’s dynamic internal properties and their affect on food security Author’s Viewpoint –“’Tragedy of the commons’ scenarios can be averted by pragmatic local solutions that help farmers to help themselves.”